8/30/2020 - Out of Depression - Psalm 42

Spiritual dryness is a common problem in the church today. Over the last five months many Christians have experienced a disconnect from God. For many this disconnect has not come as a result of personal sin but instead the circumstances of pandemic, social unrest, and politics have formed the perfect storm. 

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" Psalm 42:5a

The psalmist is right there with you. He's honest with his feelings as he talks to himself. Yes, he's talking to himself. You see there's a big difference between listening to yourself and talking to yourself. If we listen to our hearts in times of discouragement we will always be anxious. So instead we talk to our hearts. To put it another way - we preach to ourselves. There is no better voice to end the pity party than your own. Spiritual dryness is overcome by telling your heart what is true. Notice what immediately follows the question - why?

"Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." Psalm 42:5b

The focus is now on God's grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, acceptance...and the glorious future that awaits. It's as if the Psalmist says, "My soul is cast down therefore I will remember my God." Additionally he recalls a time when his soul was alive.

"These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival." Psalm 42:4

He's remembering a time when he was celebrating and worshiping with God's people. But no more. He's in a distant land far from the Temple. He misses the community because it gave him life. Can you relate? Individual study, individual prayer and individual worship cannot replace the corporate gathering where the church (meaning "assembly") gathers. The family of God is what waters our dry souls.